Defence Lawyer: Pistorius 'primal instincts' kicked in

A defence lawyer said "primal instincts" kicked in when Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp because he was in a vulnerable and fearful state.

Defence lawyer Barry Roux. Credit: PA

At the athlete's murder trial, lawyer Barry Roux said that Pistorius had felt exposed because he was standing on the stumps of his legs.

You're standing at that door. You're vulnerable. You're anxious. You're trained as an athlete to react. Take all those factors into account. He stands with his finger on the trigger, ready to fire when ready. In some instances a person will fire reflexively.
That is your primal instinct.

– Defence lawyer Barry Roux.

Roux said during his closing arguments that psychological evidence had proven the track star had a heightened fight response and naturally faces danger because of his disability.